Former soldier and musician, Liu Zhengliang, is now a charity devotee. For all he has done for the needy areas around Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, since 1993, he was nominated as a candidate for the Top 10 Volunteers in Beijing in 2005. But in his own words no honor is more important than actually doing something to help in need, Beijing Youth Daily reported on March 16.

Although he wasn't among the final winners list, which was announced on February 25, Liu didn't really mind. "If I did won the title, would it be helpful to the poverty areas of Guangxi?" he asked. 

"It may just make me well known which is not as good as actually doing some useful things." In his very brief introduction of himself and his work submitted to the Review Committee, there is only one line including the words, "have been continuously engaged in helping the needy in Guangxi's poorer areas." Very simple and direct in comparison to other nominees' long statements. But what he has done over the years could never be described as "simple".

This Don Quixote-styled idealist joined the army in 1971. While serving as a border guard between 1979-1986, he achieved something quite remarkable by composing over 100 pieces of music without instruments, a teacher or background information.

He later joined both the Guangxi and China Musicians' Associations. His song entitled Soldiers Going to Battlefield, was famed as a true song of soldiers. At a national conference of the China Musicians' Association in May 1985, he was given the title of "China's Only Frontier Musician".

His life changed in June 1993. After being hurt fighting a group of gangsters, Liu Zhengliang, was hospitalized. During this time he met a severely injured farmer named Liao Yuanxing and lent him 2,000 yuan to pay his surgery fee.

Without telling Liu the farmer left the hospital when he'd recovered because he was too poor to pay back the money. When Liu later called on the farmer in Fuqin Village, he realized he should do something for the poor man and his village. "I didn't mean to ask him for the money at that time but he thought I would and was really concerned when I appeared in front of him." Liu recalled. 

"Then I started donating thousands of yuan to help the village," he explained. At the outset Liu raised 10,000 yuan for Liao's family which included his deaf father and illiterate mother to build a new house as their home was in a state of disrepair.

Liu Zhengliang lived with Liao in Fuqin Village from then on and treated it as his home. However, he did come back to his real home once a year. But not for a holiday. He used the time to raise money. He then proceeded to tape-record interesting agricultural TV programs and bought seeds, books and fertilizers for the village farmers.

He ate, worked and slept in the village and consulted with local people about how to get rich. Although his health was declining he continued to do research and assisted the villagers in making loan applications. He also saved a lot of money, bought 50 sheep with it and gave them to the villagers. 

However, this particular project failed when most of sheep died in a short period of time. But Liu's faith wasn't broken. He started to shepherd, studied the sheep and the local environment, and designed an ecological program to prevent water and soil erosion. This helped promote the local economy. "The program has got local government approval, but the funding isn't in place yet," Liu said with a mixture of excitement and regret.   

His tenacity resulted in over 200 minutes of video being produced and over 3,000 photographs and boxes of research essays being collected. He investigated farmers' living conditions and had accumulated so much material that he could speak with great authority on the subject.

He also wrote many articles on ecological environment protection in southwest China's rocky hill areas and gave advice on how local industry could be structured.

Apart from his investment in the village, Liu Zhengliang had other interests. He has given financial support to Liao Bianli for six years, who is going to graduate from senior middle school this summer. Liao lives in a house opposite to Liu's. Her parents were unable to afford her schooling. "But the girl is brilliant and she could get a ticket to university," Liu told Beijing Youth Daily.

Last summer the China Youth Concern Committee held a camp for unfortunate children orphaned by AIDS. Liu brought one of the children home to stay with his family for two days and treated the youngster with visits to Tian'anmen Square and Beihai Park. "If nobody cares about AIDS patients they may adopt extreme measures to take revenge on society," he explained.  

Though many lavish compliments on Liu's good deeds, his wife has other concerns. She said her family subscribed neither newspapers nor magazines because once Liu saw someone or something needing help he wanted to become involved. "We are not a rich family and can't afford helping others all the time," she said.

"He never considers his own family," his wife complained. "In our marriage of 30 years we've hardly lived together. He was once a soldier in Guangxi and now he's fighting poverty in remote areas. He donated all the money he earned as an amateur actor to the needy people and wouldn't even have breakfast in order to save money. Sometimes I was so mad at what he did that I wanted a divorce but I couldn't do that because he's a very kind person,"

Liu said he understood his wife but commented, "Our generation was heavily influenced by the slogan -- One's greatest love is to love others. I'll feel guilty if I don't help those who need it."

When asked what would have become of him if he hadn't chosen to help the poor but continued with his music career, Liu responded, "Making music only benefits me but helping those living in poverty benefits many."

According to China Charity Federation's statistics released earlier this year, there are 30 million poor people in rural areas and another 30 million urban district needy people. If disabled people and disaster victims are taken into account, a total of 130 million people nationwide require assistance of some kind.

However, most of those who support charity causes are common people like Liu Zhengliang. They're simply not wealthy enough to make big changes in poor areas.

Liu said he'd continue to do his work until the end of his life no matter how people view him or possibly misunderstand him. 

There are many thank-you letters from Fuqin Village in Liu's home. One of these was sent by the girl Liao Bianli. At the end of the letter she wrote:

"Do you feel better about your waist and legs? Have you go to hospital for checkup? I think you will get well soon, because a good man will always be blessed. And you are the best in the world. Luck will be with you forever and ever."

Liu Zhengliang (L), Liao Bianli and her mother.


A farmer was using the implements bought by Liu Zhengliang.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Rui, April 2, 2006)